Call to Order

At 12:30 P.M., C.E.O. Jimmy Woods called the October 11, 2001 meeting of the NGCSU Faculty Senate to order.

• Members in Attendance: Dlynn Armstrong, Kaye Biddy, Jack Broman, V.P.A.A. Phil Buckhiester, Carl Cavalli, Noel Campbell, Daria Cronic, Barry Friedman, Robert Fuller, Donna Gessell, President Nathaniel Hansford, Rufus Larkin, Brian Mann, Georgia Mann, Vicki McCard, Bonnie Morris, Wayne Morris, Judy O'Neal, Bill Shaw, Ann Stucke, Ann Sumners, Dan Thompson, Carl Weinberg, Mary Ann Westerfield, C.E.O. Jimmy Woods
• Members Excused: John Yeoman
• Members Absent: Loretta DeLargy, Susan Gannaway, Bud Reiselt, Harriette Richard, Sherrie Williams
• Guests: Kathleen M. Krzastek, Linda Roberts-Betsch

C.E.O. Woods submitted the minutes of the September 13, 2001 meeting for approval and called for any additions or corrections. There being none, Bonnie Morris moved to accept the minutes. Daria Cronic seconded, and the minutes were approved as submitted.

President's Report:

• President Nathaniel Hansford began by announcing that an offer had been made and accepted for the C.I.O. position. The new C.I.O. will be Mr. Jay Steed, currently the C.I.O. at Bainbridge College. Dr. Hansford expressed his appreciation to the Search Committee and its Chair, Judy O'Neal. He explained that the institution had wanted to move quickly, did so, and that the candidate came very highly recommended by the committee. Dr. Terry McLeod, Dr. Hansford added, has agreed to stay on through November and will also be available for the transition period.
• Dr. Hansford then reported on events that took place at the B.O.R. meeting at Gainesville College. At the meeting, Hansford related, Martha Nesbitt reported on Gainesville College's University Center while Hansford himself reported on the Forsyth Center in Cumming. Hansford pointed out that both receive special funding from special initiatives for extending higher education. Hopefully, he says, this will bring in some additional funding to NGCSU due to its level of participation in the initiative. He added that it was a good opportunity to talk about NGCSU.
• Dr. Hansford then went on to the status of the search for a new Chancellor. After informing the Senate of current and upcoming announcements regarding the position, he said that there are 3 finalists: William C. Gordon of UNM - Albuquerque, Richard Jarvis of United States Open University in Aurora, Colorado, and Thomas C. Merideth, from the University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa. Hansford mentioned that he knows Dr. Merideth and thinks highly of him, and ended this report by saying that the Board hopes to have a decision in hand by mid-October. The successful candidate will begin work on 1 November if possible, but Chancellor Portch was prepared to stay on until 1 January if necessary.
• Dr. Hansford then turned to the budget. Pointing out that budget cut plans have already been made public, he explained that the B.O.R. has asked institutions to review their FY 2002 budgets and come up with proposals for a 2.5% cut. Additional plans for 5% reductions have also been requested for FY 2003. FY 2002 plans are to be finalized by October 15 and submitted by November 1^st. The System will also submit its own plan, perhaps reducing the percentage that institutions ultimately have to come up with. Hansford then said that the Chancellor believes in keeping faculty salaries competitive, because it helps the economy. Capital improvements and MRR (maintenance & repairs) funds have been frozen, he said, adding that although those funds already encumbered are relatively safe, they could still suffer cuts. It is a time for innovation and creativity, he reported the Chancellor as having said. Dr. Hansford also mentioned that the System might put some of these funds into the bond markets, as the current economy makes this very attractive. The new Infotech building, for example, might ultimately be funded at a higher level because bond rates are currently so low.
• Dr. Hansford went on to say that NGCSU is not done with its plan to address the 2.5% recision. Administration is still working on it to make sure it causes the least harm possible. Harm will be done, he admits, but beyond the statewide hiring freezes, it should not be done to personnel. He said that the Chancellor will try to give individual institutions the flexibility to make the cuts as they see fit, and that NGCSU's cuts will amount to some $458,000. Dr. Hansford added institutional plans would have to be flexible, as changes will certainly have to be made at some point. This is even more so for 2003 plans, as institutions are net even supposed to come up with the budgets that must now be cut until 3 months from now. With this, the President asked for questions.
• Robert Fuller asked whether the hiring freeze covers searches currently in progress. Dr. Hansford replied in the affirmative.
• In the momentary absence of other questions, Carl Weinberg reported the case of one Richard Berthold, a University of New Mexico history professor who, shortly after the attacks were made on New York and Washington D.C., commented: "Anyone who can blow up the Pentagon gets my vote." Naturally, there has been some controversy over the issue relating to academic freedom. Apparently, Weinberg says, the school will not fire the professor despite considerable pressure, although disciplinary action is pending.
• Dr. Hansford replied that in fact, the aforementioned Chancellor of the Alabama System, Tom Merideth, recently fired a (college) President, a comment that allowed laughter to relieve the tension brought on by the discussion of budget cuts.
• Donna Gessell asked if these budget cuts are, in fact, due to semester conversion, and if they are to be administered evenly "across the board."
• Dr. Hansford acknowledged that semester conversion is a factor, but added that but the real gist of the cuts is due to the state of the economy and revenue shortfalls. He also mentioned that the Chancellor has asked the legislature for "supplementary" money, and that NGCSU normally gets more of such money because our enrollment is up.
• Dlynn Armstrong asked what the odds are of the Chancellor continuing capital funding at current levels. Dr. Hansford replied that the Governor and the bond market would be the major factors in such decisions. He cited the case of NGCSU undertaking the privatized dorm project precisely because no public money is available for such projects, a fact which makes public bonds more attractive. As for salaries, Hansford thinks that the Govorner will do what he can to keep them competitive.
• Dlynn Armstrong's second question concerned how faculty would be informed about which programs will be affected by cuts. Dr. Hansford replied that it would be travel, operating budgets, plant operations, and library budgets that would be more likely to take the "hits" and that every effort will be made to keep instructional budgets safe. He also reminded the assembled that preparation of such plans is different than actually implementing them, reiterating that there is a November 1 deadline for the plans to be submitted. We’ll hear about implementation after that time.
• Bonnie Morris asked about the status of parking lot.
• Dr. Hansford acknowledged that this is an ongoing question, and reported that they have finished the grading and are doing the curbing. It is about 1/3 of the way done and the retaining walls are up. The base is next, then asphalt will be laid, followed by the markings. "If we’re lucky," he said with a doubtful smile, "it will be ready for Gold Rush." The resulting doubtful murmurs were brought to an end by his assurance that things are "moving along."

• C.E.O. Jimmy Woods opened his report by welcoming Georgia Mann. He then asked that Senators who are designated to call the first meeting of any committee in order to elect a chair should do so. If a chair has been elected, he would like him or her to please communicate that information to him and to Barry Friedman, chair of the Committee on Committees.
• Woods then reminded the Senate that Article VII, Section 1, paragraph d of the Senate by-laws states the following: "A copy of the minutes of each committee meeting, excluding items considered confidential, shall be furnished to the Executive Board and to the library for inclusion in the Faculty Senate File within ten days of the committee meeting." This is apparently not being done, so senators were asked to inform their respective committees to do so.
• Woods then reported on having received a note from Audrey Shapiro (SGA President) stating that "The SGA would like to request more involvement on the Library Committee." This note, Woods reports, led him and the Chair of the COC into a discussion and, subsequently, a short investigation. Citing a "breakdown in communication" as to the number of students and faculty on the committee, he asked for advice on whether or not the Senate should reconsider the number of faculty on committee, as there are already 3 students on it.
• Barry Friedman reminded that the intent of an amendment to the by-laws made in February of 2000 was to recognize the technical needs of the library, and subsequently proposed that the number of faculty on the committee be changed. Bonnie Morris seconded.
• Donna Gessell said that since the by-laws change was made to correct the faculty contingent on the committee, rather that the student contingent, the Senate could vote on the proposal.
• Friedman replied that there should be some notice posted about the vote. The vote was carried out, and the proposal carried with none opposed.

• After a short review of the proposal, Robert Fuller moved for approval, and Daria Cronic seconded. Again, a vote took place, and again, the motion carried unanimously.

• Dr. Krzastek informed the Senate that various graduate students, faculty, and a local minister formed the organization last semester. Its purpose is "To promote a safe environment for all members of the NGCSU community." Betty Green is the President of the organization, which has been recognized by SGA. Krzastek then passed out its mission & goals, which she asked the Senate to endorse by way of a proposal.
• Putting said proposal on the overhead projector, She asked for questions.
• There being none for the moment, Dlynn Armstrong moved to approve and Daria Cronic second.
• Noel Campbell then asked about the organization's resources and, as a reply, Dlynn Armstrong mentioned that its "Safe Space Listeners" can make referrals. Carl Weinberg clarified the process further by explaining that the referrals can extend beyond the university into the community at large. Campbell asked for further clarification of what these Listeners are, and Armstrong obliged. Dr. Krzastek added that the Listeners receive training on what resources are available.
• C.E.O. Jimmy Woods took a moment to explain that Kent Poff, who as Secretary for the Committee on Committees would take the minutes for the General faculty meeting of 10/13, was not available, but that Barry Friedman, the Parliamentarian, would attend the faculty meeting and take minutes. Phil Buckhiester corrected him, saying that Doris Mohr would, in fact, take the minutes. No argument was offered.

• Dr. McCard reminded the Senate of recent communications regarding a resolution by the Faculty Affairs Committee regarding graduation attendance, and continuing questions about whether such attendance is truly voluntary. She said that the Committee had met with President Hansford to clarify the policy, and pointed out the e-mail sent to faculty about the policy. Despite the questions about the fact that names are indeed taken, faculty should not feel pressure from Chairs to attend. She thanked the VP’s for the clarification that indeed, attendance is truly voluntary, and said that any pressure to attend should be reported to the Committee. Phil Buckhiester, smilingly in his turn, expressed the pleasure of his certainty that everyone would, in fact, attend.
• C.E.O. Jimmy Woods then asked for any new business.
• Donna Gessell mentioned the new Interdisciplinary Minor in Leadership with a military and non-military track, and mentioned a letter from President Hansford that should serve as good publicity for the minor.
• Carl Weinberg announced that he had received information from the AAUP on the BOR’s faculty sick leave policy. According to Weinberg, the Georgia State AAUP has put together a proposal regarding sick leave that covers two points: 1) The current BOR policy is based on faculty working a 9-5 workday, which is not always the case. He mentioned one unreasonable example of a 2-hour doctor’s visit costing 2 hours of sick leave even if the faculty member completes his or her work later in the day (after 5:00), and another of a faculty member who, sick and absent on a non-class day, would still have to sacrifice sick leave for such an absence. He mentioned the fact that faculty do not get sick leave for summer teaching, but expressed concern that if faculty push the sick leave issue, there will be even more scrutiny of faculty time allocation. He concluded by pointing out that the motivation behind the GSU proposal is to make sure that policy is not made without faculty input.
• Robert Fuller mentioned that some faculty members, especially those in the library, are not on faculty e-mail list. He exhorted anyone who is aware of such a case to please let Infotech know.
• Bonnie Morris agreed, saying some weren't aware of the general faculty meeting scheduled for later in the day
• V.P.A.A, Phil Buckhiester returned discussions to the sick leave affair. Mentioning that concern was brought to the VP’s at the BOR meeting, he expressed the view that due to current budgetary problems, the policy is in place to show that there is due diligence on the BOR's part to monitor faculty time. If faculty push for it, he said, there could be a different policy, but warned that we wouldn’t want money to disappear because of the public perception that faculty work less than 40 hours. Announcing that the matter will come up at the upcoming VP’s meeting in Macon, he indicated that the faculty often works until 10:30 with on-line courses and they ought to be able to go to the doctor. He assured the Senate that nobody wants to make faculty punch a (time) clock, and reported that there has been a lot of input regarding the policy.
• Carl Weinberg then reported that the GSU AAUP has formulated an alternate plan.
• C.E.O. Woods reminded the assembly that faculty earn sick leave as if they are here 40 hours, but that it’s only taken away based on the 12 or 16 hours they teach. Dr. Buckhiester confirmed this.

C.E.O. Woods then called for any further announcements. There being none, the meeting was adjourned at 1:18 p.m. Like last month, there were smiles of approval, but the comments had more to do with the C.E.O.'s ability to dispose of a long agenda so quickly and efficiently.

Respectfully submitted,

D. Brian Mann, Secretary, NGCSU Faculty Senate